Method and System for Operating a Communication Network

ABSTRACT

A network node, a coordination node, a management node, a communication system and method for operating a communication system having a first type of communication network and a second type of communication network, wherein a request message identifying a network node in the first type of communication network is sent to the coordination node in the first type of communication network by the management node in the second type of communication network, the network node is removed from the first type of communication network by the coordination node, the removed network node is included in the second type of communication network by the management node, and a data interchange is performed between the management node and the network node inserted in the second type of communication network.

Communication systems are used in various technical sectors. In thissituation, there is frequently a requirement for data to be exchangedreliably and with a minimal time delay between data sources and datasinks within the communication system, in other words with a guaranteedlatency. An example of this is the exchange of data between a centralcontrol unit and network nodes, or devices with actuators and/orsensors, of a communication system used in automation technology.Corresponding data transmission can take place for example using theIEEE 802.15.4 communication standard, whereby a transmission channelused for data transmission or the transmission frame used in thetransmission channel can be divided into time slots, the use of whichmakes possible communication, in other words a unidirectional or abidirectional data exchange, having a predetermined time behavior.

In communication systems in general and also in a communication systemof the type described above in particular, as a result of total andpermanent utilization of a transmission channel which is available fordata transmission purposes by the corresponding user data traffic, forinstance on account of corresponding cyclical data transmissions by thenetwork nodes using guaranteed time slots of a transmission frame, thesituation can arise such that no further bandwidth, in other words notransmission resources, is available for further data traffic, forinstance in order to configure one of the network nodes of thecommunication system.

The object of the present invention is to set down an especiallyefficient and flexible method for operating a communication system.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a method foroperating a communication system having a communication network of afirst type and a communication network of a second type with thefollowing steps: a request message identifying a network node in thecommunication network of the first type is sent to a coordination nodeof the communication network of the first type by a management node inthe communication network of the second type, the network node isremoved from the communication network of the first type by thecoordination node, the network node is included in the communicationnetwork of the second type by the management node and a data exchange isperformed between the management node and the network node in thecommunication network of the second type.

The method according to the invention is advantageous because it offersthe management node in the communication network of the second type thecapability to perform a data exchange with a network node without herebyimposing a load on the communication network of the first type, in whichthe network node is arranged. To this end, according to the inventionthe management node in the communication network of the second typesends a request message to the coordination node in the communicationnetwork of the first type. In this request message the particularnetwork node in the communication network of the first type isidentified, with which the management node in the communication networkof the second type would like to establish a connection. The sending ofthe request message by the management node to the coordination node canin this situation take place by way of any desired type of wireless orwired communication interface. This implies in particular that it is inthis case not necessarily a matter of a communication interface used inthe communication network of the first type or in the communicationnetwork of the second type for communicating with the respective networknode.

On the basis of the request message received the coordination node nowremoves the network node from the communication network of the firsttype. By this means it becomes possible in the next method step for thenetwork node to be included by the management node in the communicationnetwork of the second type. A data exchange subsequently takes placebetween the management node and the network node in the communicationnetwork of the second type. The capability thus advantageously exists tocompletely decouple data transmissions between the management node andthe network node from data transmissions from or to the network nodes inthe communication network of the first type. Any adverse effect on thequality of service or the transmission quality in the communicationnetwork of the first type is thus advantageously avoided.

It should be noted that as a general rule a plurality of network nodesare operated in the communication network of the first type. In thissituation, communication can take place in the communication network ofthe first type both exclusively between the coordination node and therespective network node and also where applicable additionally betweenthe network nodes themselves in the communication network of the firsttype. On the other hand, in the communication network of the second typea data exchange preferably takes place exclusively between themanagement node and the network node in question, which has previouslybeen included in the communication network of the second type. In thissituation, it is possible that the communication network of the secondtype consists exclusively of the management node and the network node inquestion, in other words that the management node in the communicationnetwork of the second type merely establishes a connection at any pointin time with that network node with which a data exchange is to beperformed.

By preference, the method according to the invention can be configuredin such a manner that a user data network is used as a communicationnetwork of the first type and a configuration network is used as acommunication network of the second type, and that in the context of thedata exchange a configuration or a change to an existing configurationof the network node takes place. This embodiment of the method accordingto the invention is preferred because through this a separation of thetransmission of user data or productive data and the transmission ofconfiguration data or project planning data can take place. With regardto a corresponding change to an existing configuration, this can forexample be a case of changing a parameter for the network node. Anyfunctional interference with the user data network is advantageouslyprevented according to the invention by the fact that the correspondingconfiguration or change in configuration is performed not in thecommunication network of the first type but in the communication networkof the second type.

The method according to the invention can advantageously also beexecuted in such a manner that after the network node has been removedfrom the communication network of the first type, inclusion of thenetwork node exclusively in the communication network of the second typeis permitted. After being removed from the communication network of thefirst type the network node preferably attempts to automaticallyregister again directly on a communication network of the communicationsystem. In this case, the communication network of the first typeadvantageously does not permit a corresponding re-registration withsubsequent re-inclusion of the network node in the communication networkof the first type. This can happen for example as a result of the factthat the communication network of the first type or the coordinationnode of the communication network of the first type ignores requestsfrom the network node for re-inclusion in a communication network. Onthe other hand, the communication network of the second type or themanagement node in the communication network of the second type respondsto corresponding requests and includes the network node in thecommunication network of the second type. This has the advantage that acorresponding removal of the network node from the communication networkof the first type and also a subsequent inclusion of the network node inthe communication network of the second type can take place in anautomated manner.

In an especially preferred development of the method according to theinvention, the network node is removed by the management node from thecommunication network of the second type after a data exchange has takenplace. This is advantageous because the network node is thusadvantageously made available again for inclusion in a differentcommunication network of the communication system.

In a further preferred embodiment, the method according to the inventioncan also be executed in such a manner that the network node remains inthe communication network of the second type after a data exchange hastaken place. This offers the advantage that a permanent assignment ofthe network node to a different communication network of thecommunication system is made possible, whereby prior to commencement ofoperation of the network node in the communication network of the secondtype, for example, a change in a parameter set for the network node ispossible.

By preference, the method according to the invention can also beexecuted such that, after a data exchange has taken place with thenetwork node, by sending a release message the management node allowsthe coordination node to again include the network node in thecommunication network of the first type. The sending of the releasemessage by the management node to the coordination node can in turn takeplace in wireless or wired fashion and constitutes the prerequisiteenabling the network node to be included in the communication network ofthe first type again after a data exchange has taken place.

In an especially preferred development of the method according to theinvention the network node is included again by the coordination node inthe communication network of the first type after a data exchange hastaken place. This offers the advantage that the network node can resumeits operation again in the communication network of the first type aftera data exchange has taken place with the management node, in other wordsfor example following a reconfiguration of the network node.

Advantageously, the method according to the invention can also beembodied in the manner such that an identity of the communicationnetwork of the second type, with which the network node is to registerafter its removal from the communication network of the first type, isnotified to the network node by the coordination node. This offers theadvantage that the identity of the communication network of the secondtype, with which the network node is to subsequently register, isalready known to the network node prior to its removal from thecommunication network of the first type. By this means, on the one handthe corresponding registration process can be accelerated; furthermorein this situation, a dynamic specification or allocation of the identityof the communication network of the second type is advantageouslypossible, in other words a static, permanent reservation of an identityfor the communication network of the second type is advantageously notrequired.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method according to theinvention the management node conveys to the coordination node theidentity of the communication network of the second type to be notifiedto the network node. By this means, the coordination node of thecommunication network of the first type is advantageously informed ofthe identity of the communication network of the second type to benotified to the network node, with the result that a static storage ofthe information concerned is advantageously also not required on thepart of the coordination node.

In a further especially preferred embodiment the method according to theinvention is developed such that the management node conveys to thenetwork node an identity of the particular communication network withwhich the network node is to register after a data exchange has takenplace. This offers the advantage that after a data exchange has takenplace the network node can perform a specific registration with thecommunication network, the identity of which has been conveyed to thenetwork node by the management node. With regard to the communicationnetwork concerned, this can be both the communication network of thefirst type and also any desired further communication network of thecommunication system.

Basically, within the scope of the method according to the invention anytypes of network node can be used. Particularly advantageous however isthe embodiment of the method according to the invention whereby networknodes connected wirelessly to the respective communication network areused. This means that the communication with the network nodes takesplace both in the communication network of the first type and also inthe network node of the second type by way of a corresponding radiointerface. This offers the advantage that an automated and thus alsoespecially efficient execution of the method according to the inventionis made possible. At the same time, wirelessly connected network nodesoffer the advantage that they can be used in a versatile and flexiblemanner on account of the fact that a wired connection to a communicationnetwork is not required.

The method according to the invention can preferably also be developedin the form such that a communication network in accordance with theIEEE 802.15.4 standard is used as the communication network of the firsttype and/or as the communication network of the second type. Use of theIEEE 802.15.4 standard is advantageous because this is a robust andpopular standard for wireless communication. In this situation,advantageously, in particular the power consumption of network nodes orterminal devices operated in accordance with this standard as devices iscomparatively low, with the result that battery operated network nodescan also achieve a period of use of several months or years withouthaving a battery change.

In a further especially preferred embodiment of the method according tothe invention the data transmission between the network node and thecoordination node and also between the network node and the managementnode takes place using different communication protocols. This meansthat the network node is advantageously able to communicate by way of atleast two communication protocols, in other words it has at least twodifferent “communication stacks” or “protocol stacks”. In thissituation, one of the communication protocols can be used for thecommunication in the communication network of the first type, whereby afurther communication protocol remains inactive until the network nodeis removed from the communication network of the first type. At thispoint in time a switchover of the communication stacks used within thenetwork node can now take place, in other words the communicationprotocol for operating the network node in the communication network ofthe first type is deactivated and the further communication protocol isactivated for the duration of operation of the network node in thecommunication network of the second type. This offers the advantage thata restriction to the effect that the same communication protocol be usedin the communication network of the first type and in the communicationnetwork of the second type is advantageously not required. By thismeans, the flexibility in respect of the possible applications of themethod according to the invention is further enhanced.

Advantageously, the method according to the invention is embodied insuch a manner that the communication network of the first type and thecommunication network of the second type utilize different transmissionchannels. This advantageously serves to ensure that the communication ordata transmission in the communication network of the first type and inthe communication network of the second type are completely independentof each other, in other words that in particular any adverse effect onthe availability and the quality of service of the transmissionresources provided in the communication network of the first typeresulting from the data exchange in the communication network of thesecond type is excluded.

In a further preferred embodiment of the method according to theinvention a communication system from the automation technology sectorhaving network nodes with sensors and/or actuators is used. This isadvantageous because in particular in the area of automation technologyhigh demands are made in respect of the availability of thecommunication networks used and also in respect of a transmission ofdata with a minimal delay, observed under all circumstances. Moreover,with regard to network nodes with sensors and/or actuators a change, forinstance in the form of a change in a parameter for the sensor oractuator in question, is in practice also required comparativelyfrequently, with the result that use of the method according to theinvention is also especially advantageous for this reason in the area ofautomation technology.

The invention furthermore relates to a network node.

In respect of the network node, the object of the present invention isto set down a network node which supports an especially efficient andflexible method for operating a communication system.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a network nodehaving means for use in the method according to the invention or meansfor use in one of the preferred developments described above of themethod according to the invention.

In respect of the advantages of the network node according to theinvention and its preferred developments, reference should be made tothe corresponding statements in connection with the method according tothe invention and its preferred developments.

The invention furthermore relates to a coordination node.

In respect of the coordination node, the object of the present inventionis to set down a coordination node which renders possible an especiallyefficient and flexible method for operating a communication system.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a coordinationnode having means for use in the method according to the invention ormeans for use in one of the preferred developments described above ofthe method according to the invention.

In respect of the advantages of the coordination node according to theinvention and its preferred developments, reference should in turn bemade to the corresponding statements in connection with the methodaccording to the invention and its preferred developments.

The present invention furthermore relates to a management node.

In respect of the management node, the object of the present inventionis to set down a management node which supports an especially efficientand flexible method for operating a communication system.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a management nodehaving means for use in the method according to the invention or meansfor use in one of the preferred developments described above of themethod according to the invention.

The advantages of the management node according to the invention and ofits preferred developments will in turn emerge from the previousstatements in connection with the method according to the invention andits preferred developments.

In an especially preferred embodiment the management node according tothe invention is additionally designed as a coordination node. Thisoffers the advantage that the management node is designed not only forincluding a network node and for performing a data exchange with thisnetwork node, but moreover can also remove this network node, afterreceiving a corresponding request message from a further managementnode, from the communication network of the second type managed by it.An appropriately developed management node thus advantageouslyconstitutes an especially flexible and versatile embodiment of themanagement node according to the invention.

The invention furthermore relates to a communication system.

In respect of the communication system, the object of the presentinvention is to set down an especially efficient and flexiblecommunication system.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a communicationsystem with a network node according to the invention, a coordinationnode according to the invention and a management node according to theinvention or a management node in accordance with the previouslydescribed especially preferred development of the management nodeaccording to the invention.

In respect of the advantages of the communication system according tothe invention, reference should be made in turn to the previousstatements in connection with the method according to the invention andits preferred developments.

The invention will be described in the following with reference to anexemplary embodiment. In the drawing, the

FIGURE shows the time sequence of an exemplary embodiment of the methodaccording to the invention in a schematic diagram in three parts a), b)and c).

In the FIGURE, the sequence of an exemplary embodiment of the methodaccording to the invention is shown in such a manner that the situationat a different point in time is illustrated in each case in the partsa), b) and c).

It should be assumed in the following that a communication network ofthe first type KN1 illustrated for the first time in a) is acommunication network used in the area of automation technology. Thishas a coordination node K, for instance in the form of a control unit,and network nodes D1, D2, D3, for instance in the form of sensors and/oractuators or in the form of devices with sensors and/or actuators. Thecommunication network of the first type KN1 is a communication networkin accordance with the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, whereby the network nodesD1, D2, D3 communicate with the coordination node K by using so-calledguaranteed time slots GTS. Corresponding guaranteed time slots areallocated to the respective network nodes D1, D2, D3 for their sole use,such that a deterministic communication with predetermined latencybetween the network nodes D1, D2, D3 and the coordination node K isensured. According to the IEEE 802.15.4 standard the communication iswireless in this case, in other words the coordination node and thenetwork nodes D1, D2, D3 each have at their disposal a correspondingwireless radio interface.

In the initial situation illustrated in part a) of the FIGURE, user datais exchanged between the wireless participants in the form of thenetwork nodes D1, D2, D3 and the coordination node K, which is referredto as “coordinator” in respect of its function in the IEEE 802.15.4standard. The data exchange takes place in the communication network ofthe first type, which fulfills the function of a user data network. Thismeans that the communication network of the first type is essentiallyreserved for the transmission of user data, with the result that othertypes of data cannot or should not be transmitted or at least can orshould be transmitted only under restriction.

In order to now be able to make a change in the configuration forexample of the network node D1 in the communication network of the firsttype KN1 without having an adverse effect on the efficiency of thecommunication network of the first type KN1 in the process, according topart b) of the FIGURE a management node VK of a communication network ofthe second type sends a request message to the coordination node K inthe communication network of the first type KN1 in a first method step1. With this request message the coordination node K is instructed toremove the network node D1 identified in the request message from thecommunication network of the first type KN1 in the form of the user dataor productive network. The transmission of the request message by themanagement node VK, which can fulfill the function of a so-called “humanmachine interface (HMI)”, in other words for instance has an operatingterminal for performing a configuration of one of the network nodes D1,D2, D3 of the communication system, to the coordination node K can takeplace wirelessly by way of a radio interface or also in wired fashion,in other words for example by way of an interface according to thePROFINET standard.

In the second method step 2 the coordination node K removes the networknode D1 from the communication network of the first type KN1 inaccordance with the illustration in part b) of the FIGURE on account ofthe request message received previously in method step 1.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in the FIGURE, in accordance with partc) of the FIGURE the management node VK now includes the network node D1previously removed from the first communication network KN1 in a secondcommunication network KN2 in the third method step 3. According to theillustration in the FIGURE, this can be effected by the management nodeVK creating a communication network of the second type KN2 in the formof a project planning network with a fixed identity. This means that themanagement node VK here simultaneously implements the function of acoordination node. It is however naturally also possible for thecommunication network of the second type KN2 to be static in nature, inother words that a fixed identity is assigned to the communicationnetwork of the second type KN2 regardless of whether or not it has anetwork node at the respective point in time, and the communicationnetwork of the second type KN2 is thus ready at any time to includenetwork nodes.

In detail, the inclusion of the network node D1 removed from thecommunication network of the first type KN1 in the communication networkof the second type KN2 can for example take place in such a manner thatthe network node D1 restarts and attempts to register with an availablecommunication network. The communication network of the first type KN1does not however allow any re-registration, in other words it does notrespond to a corresponding request by the network node D1 forre-inclusion in the communication network of the first type KN1. Thecommunication network of the second type KN2 does however react to thecorresponding request and enables the network node D1 to register withthe management node VK in the communication network of the second typeKN2 in accordance with method step 3 in part c) of the FIGURE.

Advantageously, the network node D1 can already be notified by thecoordination node K in the communication network of the first type KN1of the identity of the communication network of the second type KN2,with which it is to register following its removal from thecommunication network of the first type KN1. The identity in question ofthe communication network of the second type KN2 is advantageouslynotified to the coordination node K in the communication network of thefirst type KN1 beforehand by the management node VK in the communicationnetwork of the second type KN2. This course of action has the advantagethat the reservation of a fixed identity for the configuration network,in other words the communication network of the second type KN2, is notrequired in static form.

In the following, a data exchange can now be performed between themanagement node VK and the network node D1 in the communication networkof the second type KN2. Within the framework of such a data exchange,indicated in the FIGURE by method step 4 in part c), a change in theconfiguration of the network node D1 can be made by the management nodeVK, for example. In this situation, the type of the data exchanged ineach case is dependent on the respective application. A correspondingchange in the configuration of the network node D1 can thus, in the caseof a network node with a temperature sensor, consist for example in thefact that a temperature threshold for the network node D1 is changed. Asan alternative to a corresponding change in a configuration, it is forexample also conceivable that data, for instance in the form of a logfile, for instance within the scope of an error analysis, is transmittedby the network node D1 to the management node VK or that a generalupdate of software for the network node D1 takes place.

Following completion of the configuration the management node VKadvantageously informs the coordination node K in the communicationnetwork of the first type KN1 in a method step no longer illustrated inthe time sequence of the FIGURE that the network node D1 may re-join thecommunication network of the first type KN1 in the form of the user datanetwork. The corresponding communication between the management node VKand the coordination node K can in turn take place in wireless or wiredfashion.

In the next step the management node VK removes the network node D1, forwhich a change in the configuration or project planning has previouslytaken place, from the communication network of the second type KN2. Asan alternative to this the network node D1 can naturally alsoindependently deregister itself from the communication network of thesecond type KN2. Thereupon the network node D1 attempts anew to registeritself with one of the available communication networks KN1, KN2. Thecoordination node K in the communication network of the first type KN1responds to the corresponding request from the network node D1 andincludes the latter again in the communication network of the first typeKN1 in the form of the user data network. The network node D1 is thusnow available again in the following in the communication network of thefirst type KN1.

By preference, following completion of the configuration the managementnode VK can convey to the network node D1 an identity of thatcommunication network with which the network node D1 is to registerafter a data exchange has taken place, in other words after the changein the configuration has been completed. Thus, following completion ofthe data exchange in the communication network of the second type KN2 acoordination node, where applicable also different from the coordinationnode K in the communication network of the first type KN1, canadvantageously be permanently assigned to the network node D1, in otherwords following a change in its configuration the network node D1 canalso be included in a communication network different from thecommunication network of the first type KN1.

The network node D1 advantageously has at its disposal two or moredifferent communication stacks, in other words it supports communicationby way of corresponding different communication protocols. In thissituation, one of these communication stacks is advantageously used forthe communication in the communication network of the first type KN1 andanother is used for the communication, in other words the datatransmission, in the communication network of the second type KN2. Thisoffers the advantage that communication protocols, and thus transmissionmethods, which basically differ technically can also be used in thecommunication network of the first type KN1 and in the communicationnetwork of the second type. It is therefore conceivable for example thatthe communication network of the first type KN1 is operated using anon-standardized communication protocol whereas the operation in thecommunication network of the second type KN2 can take place using astandardized communication protocol, such as ZigBee for example, basedon the IEEE 802.15.4 standard.

It is furthermore advantageously possible that the management node VKitself is simultaneously designed as a coordination node. In this case,after completion of its configuration or reconfiguration the networknode D1 advantageously remains in the communication network of thesecond type KN2. The method according to the invention can thusadvantageously also be used in order to assign a network node D1, forinstance in the form of an automation technology device, to a differentcoordination node, in other words to a different communication network.In this situation, within the scope of the data exchange the possibilityexists for instance to make available a new parameter set to the networknode D1 prior to commencement of operation in the communication networkof the second type KN2. This offers the advantage that no manualparameterization effort arises if a device in the form of the networknode D1 is intended to switch communication network or is assigned to adifferent coordination node.

From the preceding statements it can be recognized as a fundamentaladvantage of the described exemplary embodiment of the method accordingto the invention that in a communication system productive operation andconfiguration operation, in other words the transmission of user dataand configuration data, can take place in different communicationnetworks and thereby for example in particular also on differentchannels of one frequency band. In particular, the data transmission inthe communication network of the first type KN1, in other words theproductive operation, is consequently not disrupted or adverselyaffected by the data exchange occurring in the communication network ofthe second type KN2, in other words by the configuration operation.Furthermore, as a result of the channel separation of productive andconfiguration operation more bandwidth is available on the channel forthe productive operation, which can be used for transmitting user data.Similarly, correspondingly more bandwidth is accordingly also availablefor the data exchange in the communication network of the second typeKN2. Since the configuration does not thus take place in competitionwith the transmission of user data, the opportunity furthermoreadvantageously exists to first check or test changed settings on thenetwork nodes, for example affecting automation technology sensors oractuators, before the network nodes are taken into productive operationagain, in other words for example included in the communication networkof the first type KN1 again. Possible incorrect settings can thusalready be advantageously recognized and corrected prior to re-inclusionin the communication network of the first type KN1.

1.-20. (canceled)
 21. A method for operating a communication systemhaving a first type communication network (KN1) and a second type ofcommunication network (KN2), the method comprising the steps of: sendinga request message identifying a network node (D1) in the first type ofcommunication network (KN1) to a coordination node (K) in the first typeof communication network (KN1) by a management node (VK) in the secondtype of communication network (KN2); removing the network node (D1) fromthe communication network of the first type (KN1) by the coordinationnode (K); including the removed network node (D1) in the second type ofcommunication network (KN2) by the management node (VK); and performinga data exchange between the management node (VK) and the network node(D1) in the second type of communication network (KN2).
 22. The methodas claimed in claim 21, wherein the first type of communication networkcomprises a user data network and the second type of a communicationnetwork comprises a configuration network, and wherein a configurationor a change to an existing configuration of the network node (D1) occursduring the data exchange.
 23. The method as claimed in claim 21, furthercomprising the step of: permitting exclusive inclusion of the networknode (D1) in the second type of (KN2) communication network afterremoval of the network node (D1) from the first type of communicationnetwork (KN1).
 24. The method as claimed in claim 22, further comprisingthe step of: permitting exclusive inclusion of the network node (D1) inthe second type of (KN2) communication network after removal of thenetwork node (D1) from the first type of communication network (KN1).25. The method as claimed in one claim 21, wherein the network node (D1)is removed by the management node (VK) from the communication network ofthe second type (KN2) after the data exchange has occurred.
 26. Themethod as claimed in claim 21, wherein the network node (D1) remains inthe second type of communication network (KN2) after the data exchangehas occurred.
 27. The method as claimed in claim 21, further comprisingthe step of: sending a release message from the management node (VK)after the data exchange has occurred with the network node (D1) to allowthe coordination node (K) to re-include the network node (D1) in thefirst type of communication network (KN1).
 28. The method as claimed inclaim 21, wherein the network node (D1) is re-included by thecoordination node (K) in the first type of communication network KN1)after the data exchange has taken place.
 29. The method as claimed inclaim 21, further comprising the step of: providing to the network node(D1) a notification of an identity of the second type of communicationnetwork with which the network node (D1) is to register, by thecoordination node (K) after removal of the network node (D1) from thefirst type of communication network of the (KN1).
 30. The method asclaimed in claim 29, wherein the management node (VK) conveys to thecoordination node (K) the identity of the second type of communicationnetwork (KN2) to be notified to the network node (D1).
 31. The method asclaimed in claim 29, wherein the management node (VK) conveys to thenetwork node (D1) an identity of a particular communication network withwhich the network node (D1) is to register after the data exchange hasoccurred.
 32. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the networknode is (D1) wirelessly connectable to the first type and second type ofcommunication networks (KN1, KN2).
 33. The method as claimed in claim21, wherein at least one of the first type of communication network(KN1) and the second type of communication network (KN2) operates inaccordance with the IEEE 802.15.4 standard.
 34. The method as claimed inclaim 21, wherein the data transmission between the network node (D1)and the coordination node (K), and between the network node (D1) and themanagement node (VK) occurs based on different communication protocols.35. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the first type ofcommunication network and the second type of communication network (KN2)utilize different transmission channels.
 36. The method as claimed inclaim 21, wherein the communication system comprises an automationtechnology sector system including network nodes (D1, D2, D3), each ofthe network nodes having at least one of a sensor and an actuator.
 37. Anetwork node (D1), comprising: means for communicating with acoordination node (K) in a first type of communication network; andmeans for performing a data exchange between a management node (VK) andthe network node (D1) in a second type of communication network (KN2).38. A coordination node (K), comprising: means for receiving a requestmessage identifying a network node (D1) in a first type of communicationnetwork (KN1) sent by a management node (VK) in a second type ofcommunication network (KN2); and means for removing the network node(D1) from the first type of communication network (KN1).
 39. Amanagement node (VK), comprising: means for sending a request messageidentifying a network node (D1) in the first type of communicationnetwork (KN1) to a coordination node (K) in the first type ofcommunication network (KN1), the management node (VK) being in a secondtype of communication network (KN2); and means for including the removednetwork node (D1) in the second type of communication network (KN2). 40.The management node as claimed in claim 39, wherein the management node(VK) is configured as a coordination node (K) in the second type ofcommunication network (KN2).
 41. A communication system, comprising: anetwork node (D1); a coordination node (K) in a first type ofcommunication network (KN1); a management node (VK) in a second type ofcommunication network (KN2), the management node comprising means forsending a request message identifying the network node (D1) to thecoordination node (K), the coordination node (K) comprising means forremoving the network node (D1) from the first type of communicationnetwork (KN1) in response to the request message; the management node(VK) comprising means for including the removed network node (D1) in thesecond type of communication network (KN2); and the management node (VK)comprising means for performing a data exchange with the network node(D1).